It is barely a week since I reviewed Cathedral Festival Evensongs at St Mary’s Cathedral in Palmerston Place but these two services are listed separately in the Fringe Programme and Broadway Baby tries to review as many separate entries as possible, hence the reviewing of two such similar events. I have stressed that these reviews look at things as a contribution to the Festival rather than commenting on the spiritual dimension. The service was a Eucharist in the 1982 modern language version and was well led by the Provost, with the retired Bishop joining to distribute the elements.
The setting was Schubert in G and was started with genuine enthusiasm. Sadly this was not to last and several later sections flagged. Full use was made of the choir during the half hour service and those extra touches brought pleasure. I particularly enjoyed the acclamation with the Gradual proper. This had genuine warmth in its Alleluias and showed the choir at its best. The motet was Byrd’s Justorum Animae. Here, as elsewhere, the trebles had some wobbly moments. Overall, however, this was a well-presented service giving a fitting and restful close to the working day. The sheer size of the Cathedral is designed for this and every visitor should take the chance to spend a few minutes in this very different space within Edinburgh. The closing Bach Prelude as an Organ Voluntary was played well and was the perfect close to another day in the worship cycle of the cathedral.
